Automatically-reclosing circuit breaker



E. RANEY AUTOMATICALLY RECLOSING CIRCUIT BREAKER Filed March 17. 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 j u E x. Y i 3 v Q R x Y E "D fix g Y \J g x Y L M INV EN TOR.

BY umf /La ATTORNEY.

Patented Dec. 18, 1928.

UNITED STATES ESIELL c. BAH'EY, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO.

AUTOIA'I'ICALLY-B-EGLOSIN G CIRCUIT BREAKER.

Application fled larch 17, 1922. Serial No. 544,410.

My invention relates to an automatically reclosing circuit breaker of the type which opens automatically on short circuit or overload but which will reclose automatically whenever the load resistance is increased to a redetermined value. My device is applica le to -a system of electrical distribution having one or more sections.

The purpose of this invention is to provide an efficient breaker of the above type which may be used to protect circuits in a. system 111 which current may at times be supplied from more than one source, so that the circuit connected to a given terminal of the breaker may at one time constitute the load circuit and at another time the same circuit may serve as the supply circuit. 7

An essential feature of this-invention is that of providing an automatic means of connecting the reclosing controlling means,

when the breaker is open, so that said reclosing controlling means will be in parallel with the circuit which at that instant happens to constitute the load circuitfUnder this condition anyvariation in load resistance will have its maximum efiect upon the controlling means.

More specifically, my invention comprises a circuit breaker between adjacent sections,

a reclosing coil for said circuit breaker, and

in drop to effect operation of the said controlling coil from that section having the lower potential.

The preferred embodiment of my invention is shown in the accompanying drawings,

wherein similar characters of reference designate corresponding parts, and wherein Figure 1 is a diagrammatic representation of one form of my invention, showing the parts in the normal position with the breaker closed.

Figure 2 is a similar representation showing the parts with the breaker open and with a short circuit existing on circuit 1.

Figure 3 is a diagrammatic representation 66 of a system of electrical distribution having a plurality of sections which are shown connected with a plurality of generators or dis tributing stations, only one breaker being shown in diagrammatic detail.

In the drawings, 1 and 2 represent feeder sections of the same polarity, while the line of opposite polarity is indicated by the numeral 3. A main contact member 4serves to connect and disconnect the sections 1 and 2.

The contact member 4 is 0 erated by a reclosing coil 5 which is normal energized to maintain this contact 4 in its ridging relatlon and therefore connect the sections. -An overload coil 6 controls a contact member 7 so that in case of an overload or short circult the circuit of the coil 5 will 'be broken and the main contact member 4 will drop awa from its bridging position. The reclosing of the breaker is under the control of a'contact 8 and its controlling coil 9. The

circuit of this controlling coil 9 is automatically completed within a regulable time after opening of the breaker by means of a contact 10, the time period of the closing of this contact 10 being regulated by means of a dash pot- 11,

The controlling coil 9, however, is rendered responsive to either of the sections 1 and 2 by means of a polarized relay. This polarized relay has a contact 12 Which-is movable lnto contact with either of the points 13 and 14 depending upon the direction of drop of potential between the section. It is held in either of these positions by means of an elf-center spring 15.

The polarized relay is moved to either of its two positions by theactionof coils 16 and 17 in a manner that will be readily understood. The resistance units '18 and 19 permit a limited-amount of current to be shunted East the main contact member 4 when the reaker is in open position.

Description of operation.

Referring to Figure 1, the contact 4 will be held closed by actlon of coil 5 under nor- -mal conditions. The circuit of coil 5 being open by the overload current, main contact 4 and maintaining contact 23 will be opened. After a brief time interval the timing device 11 will permit contact 10 to close and the position of parts will then be as indicated in Figure 2.

(b) 0Z0sz'ng.In order for coil 5 to be energized after opening the contact 8 must first bridge contact points 25 and 26 to provide a circuit from wire 22 to coil 5 while maintaining contact 23 is being closed to complete the circuit from wire 22 to wire 24.

Assuming a short circuit to have occurred between lines 2 and 3, a limited current will flow from line 1 thru resistance 18 and 19, then thru short circuit to line 3. The potential thus set up between lines 1 and 2 will cause the polarized relay to operate and move arm 12 into contact with point 14. With contact arm 12 in this position, controlling coil 9 is connected in parallel with the short circuit or overload, and so long as the overload is of extremely low value the potential of coil 9 will be insutiicient to effect the closing of contact 8. Upon removal of the short circuit or overload the resistance between lines 2 and 3 will be increased, thus raising the potential on coil 9to the point of operation, and the operating coil 5 is energized to close the main contact 4. An extension ,from the operating member of coil 5 also opens contact 10 after maintaining contact 23 has closed the circuit between 22 and 24. The opening of contact 10 in turn deenergizes coil 9 and the contact-8 again opens.

From the drawings and description, it is apparent that this device is symmetrically connected and that the operation would be the same if conditions were reversed and the short circuit or overload should be between lines 1 and 3 with line 2 acting as the source of supply. In this case the flow of current thru coil 17 is reversed and contact 12 will engage point 13 so that coil 9 is connected in parallel with the load circuits 1 and 3, and the operation will be etiected in the same mannor as heretofore described.

From the foregoing description of operation it will be apparent that this type of circuit breaker is particularly adapted for operation in connection with such a system as indicated in Figure 3. \Vhen both generating stations A and B are operating, current will be fed from circuit 1 to circuit 2 thru main contacts 4. However, when either station is shut down, the current to its bus will supplied thru the inter-connecting feeder in a reverse direction. -The automatically reversible features of th'. invention permit the operation of such systems in the most etiicient manner, and at the same time provide full automatic protection to the circuits.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is:

1. In a system of electrical distribution having a plurality of sections, an automatically reclosing circuit breaker for connecting adjacent sections, a means'for controlling reclosing of said breaker, and a means automatically responsive to change of direction of potential drop across adjacent sections to eifect operation of said controlling means from the section having the lower potential. 2. Ina system of electrical distribution having a plurality of sections, an automatically reclosing circuit breaker for connecting adjacent sections, comprising means for controlling the closing ofsaid breaker, means for automatically rendering the said controlling means solely responsive to a single section and to the one having the lower potential.

3. In combination with an automatically operated circuit breaker mechanism having a main contact member, means for opening the main contact member, means for closing the main contact member, means for controlling said closing means, so arranged as to automatically transfer the connection of the controlling means so as to connect said controlling means to the section'having the lowest potential.

4. In combination with an automatically operated circuit breaker mechanism, means for opening the main contact member of the breaker, means for closing said main contact member, means for controlling said closing means, and a polarized relay movable to alternate positions by variation of the direction of potential drop across adjacent sections to render said controlling means responsive to the circuit having a lower potential.

5. In combination with an automatically operated circuit breaker mechanism, means for opening the main contact member of the breaker, means for closing such main contact member, means for controlling said closing means, and a polarized relay operative to automatically maintain said controlling means in parallel with the section having the load.

6 In a system of electrical distribution having a plurality of sections, an automatically reclosing circuit breaker for connecting adjacent sections, means for controlling reclosing of said breaker, and a polarized relay automatically operative to insure the maintenance of said controlling means responsive to the section having the lower potential.

7. In a system of electrical distribution having a plurality of sections, an automatically reclosing circuit breaker for connecting adjacent sections, means for opening the main contact member of the breaker, means for closing said main contact member. means for controlling said closing means, and means whereby said controlling means is automatically connected in parallel with whichever section constitutes the load section.

8. In a system of electrical distribution having a plurality of sections, an automatically reclosing circuit breaker for connect ing adjacent sections, a means for controlling reclosing of said breaker, and a means automatically responsive to change of direction of the potential drop across adjacent sections to efi'ect operation of said controlling means by the potential of one of the sections.

9. In a system of electrical distribution having a pluralityof sections, an automatically reclosing circuit "breaker for connecting adjacent sections, a means for controlling reclosing of said breaker, and a means automatically responsive to change of direction of potential drop across adjacent sections to change the connection of said controlling means from one section to the other.

10. In combination with an automatically operated circuit breaker mechanism, means for opening the main contact member, means for controlling the reclosing of the main contact member, automatic means for trans ferring the connection of the controlling means from one section to the other in response to change in direction of potential difference between the sections.

11. In an automatic reclosing circuit breaker system, in which two sections of an electrical system are arranged to be con-' nected together by the circuit breaker a coil adapted when energized to effect the closing of the said circuit breaker, two circuits for said coil, and means arranged to be operated in accordance with the relative voltages across said sections when said circuit breaker is open for selectively connecting the controlling coil to one or theother of the said sections.

12. In an automatic reclosing circuit breaker system, in which two sections of an electrical system are arranged to be connected together by the circuit breaker, a coil adapted when energized to effect the closing of the said circuit breaker, two circuits for said coil, and means arranged to be operated in accordance with the relative voltages across said sections when said circuit breaker is open for selectively connecting -the controlling.

coil to one or the other of the said sections, whichever may have the lower voltage.

13. In an automatic reclosing circuit breaker system, in which two sections of an electrical system are arranged to be connected together by the circuit breaker, a coil adapted when energized to .e'fi'ect the closing of the said circuit breaker, two circuits forsaid coil, and means arranged to be operated in accordance with'the relativevoltages across said sections when said circuit breaker is open for disconnecting the controlling coil from the section having the higher voltage and connecting it to the section having the lower voltage.

14. In a system of electrical distribution having a plurality of sections, an automatic reclosing circuit breaker. for electrically connecting adjacent sections and connected to receive current from either section, means for controlling the closing of the said breaker and responsive to the voltage of either section, and to one section at a time, and to the section having the lower voltage.-

15. In a system of electrical distribution having a plurality of sections, an automatic reclosing circuit breaker for connecting adjacent sections, means for controlling the closing of the said breaker. and means for automatically rendering the said controlling means solely responsive to either section and to one section only at a time.

16. In a system of electrical distribution having a plurality of sections, an automatic reclosing circuit breaker for connecting adjacent sections and connected to receive current from either of the adjacent sections, means for controlling the closing of the said breaker, and means for automatically rendering the said controlling means solely responsive to either section and to one section only at a time.

17. In a system having an automatic rcclosing circuit breaker for electrically connecting together adjacent sections, a means for closing the breaker, a device for connecting the closing means with either side of the breaker, depending on which has the lower potential, and with but one side at a time.

18. In a system having an automatic reclosing circuit breaker for electrically connecting adjacent sections and comprising a breaker closing coil, a closing means for completing the circuit of the coil, a device for connecting the closing means with either side of the breaker, dependin on which has the lower potential, and wit but one side at a time.

19. In a system having an automatic reclosing circuit breaker for electrically connecting together adjacent sections, a breaker reclosing controlling coil, a device connected to the said sections and having a meinber for connecting the breaker reclosing controlling coil with either of the said sections and with but one section at a time.

20. In a system having an automatic reclosing circuit breaker for electrically connecting together adjacent sections of the system, an electro-magnetic means for operatin g the breaker, a breaker reclosing controlling coil for completing the circuit of the said electro-magnetic means, a device connected to both of the said sections and having a member responsive to the current through said device for connecting the breaker reclosing controlling coil with either of the said sections and with but one section at a time.

21. In a system having an automatic reclosing circuit breaker for connecting adjacent sections of the system, an electro-magnetic means for actuating the breaker and connected to receive current from either side of the breaker, a controlling means responsive in its operation to the potential of the section having the lowerpotential for completing the circuit of the electro-magnetic means.

22. In a system having an automatic reclosing circuit breaker for connecting adjacent sections of the system, an electro-magnetic means for actuating the breaker and connected to receive current from either side of the breaker, a controlling means responsive solely to a single section at a time and to the section having the lower potential for completing the circuit of the electro-magnetic means.

23. In a system having an automatic reclosing circuit breaker for electrically connecting adjacent sections of the system, a closing coil for actuating the breaker and connected to receive current from either side of the breaker, a controlling means :for completing the circuit of the coil when the current through the controlling means reaches a predetermined amount, a device connected to the said sections, a member operated by the device for connecting the controlling means with either of the sections and with but one section at a time.

24. In a system of electrical distribution having a plurality of sections, an automatic rec-losing circuit breaker for electrically connecting adjacent sections and comprising an electro-magnetic means for closing the breaker, means for connecting the electromagnetic means to direct a current from the section having the larger voltage to the electro-magnetic means to operate the electromagnetic means, means for controlling the closing of the said breaker by the electro-magnetic means by the operation of the first .named means, and responsive to the voltage of either section, and to one section at a time, and to the section having the lower volta e.

25. In a system of electrical distribution having a plurality of sections, an automatic reclosing circuit breaker for electrically connecting adjacent sections and comprising an electro-magnetic means for closing the break er, a source of supply of current, means for connecting the electro-magnetic means to the source of current, means for controlling the closing of the said breaker by the electromagnetic means b the operation of the first named means, an responsive to the voltage of either section and to one of the sections at a time, and to the section having the lower voltage.

In testimony whereof I hereby atfix my signature. 1

ESTELL C. RANEY. 

